Abigail Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, January 16, 1803

Quincy Jan’ ry 16 th 1803

my Dear Madam

It was with much pleasure I recognized the Hand writing of an old
Friend, tho only in the Signature of her name. 1 it recall’d to mind those days of pleasureable
intercourse, “when thought met thought,[”] and a happy union of sentiment endeard our
Friendship, which neither time, or distance has effaced from my Bosom. 2 I have sympathized with You, in sickness and
in Sorrow, much oftner than my pen has detailed it to you.— I too have tasted of the
bitter cup of affliction—and one is not, cut off in the Meridian of Life.

I was happy that my son had an opportunity of paying his respects
to the ancient Friends of his parents. We should be equally glad to see Your sons when
ever they pass this way. his visit to Plimouth was necessarily short, or he would have
spent more time with You.

You observe that you have not Seen any effect of my pen for a
long time; Indeed my Dear Madam, I have avoided writing for these two Years past a
single Letter, except to my Sister, and Children. the Sacred Deposit of private
confidence has been betrayed, and the bonds of Friendly intercourse Snapt assunder to
Serve the most malicious purposes; even a jocular expression, has been made to wear
the garb of Sober reality; the most innocent expressions have been twisted, mangled
& tortured into meanings wholy foreign to the Sentiments of the Writer. I have
been ready to exclaim with the poet, “What Sin unknown dipt you in Ink?[”] 3

There now lies before me an Ægis of the present year; in which is
draged to light, the intercepted Letter, said to have been written to your Worthy
Husband, in the year 1775, 4 and
publishd in an English Magazine. The design of the publisher appears from the
introduction of the Letter, to make it believed, that the person alluded to as a
pidling Genius, was Gen’ ll Washington, and 5 that the Supposed writer, was engaged in a
plot to get him removed from the command of the Army. that he possesst a Sanguinary
revengefull temper, and was desirious of punishment without mercy: 6 without adverting to the period when the
Letter was written the State of the country at that time, before the declaration of
Independance had Sit it free from the Shackles and Chains which were prepared for it,
and when we were hazarding an attempt to form a Government for ourselves. it was
natural for the Letter Writer to inquire; will your judges be Bold? will they feel
firm? will they dare to Execute the Laws, under their present
circumstances? with their Capitol in the possession of a powerfull Enemy, and many of
their near and dear Friends Shut up within it, Prisoners to them. The old Actors are
gone off the Stage. few remain who remember the perils and dangers to which we were
then exposed, and fewer still who are willing to do Justice to those who hazarded
their lives and fortunes, for to Secure to them the blessings which they now possess,
and upon which they Riot, and Scoff. little regard is paid to that prohibition, thou
Shalt not bear false witness, or to that System of Benevolence which teaches us to
Love one another, and which I trust, we my dear Madam Shall never lose sight of,
however reviled and despightfully used. 7

Your Friends tho not exempt from the infirmities of age, are in
the enjoyment of many blessings, amongst which is a comfortable portion of Health, and
rural felicity. We enjoy the present with gratitude, and look forward to brighter
prospects, and more durable happiness in a future State of existance, where we hope to
meet, and rejoice with those whom we have loved, and revered upon Earth—

as to the little pecuniary matter between us, which but for your
reminding me of, would never have been recollected by me, I know not where the papers
are. I have not seen them or thought of them for many years; I have not any thing upon
Book and the amount can be but a triffel, and I beg you not to give yourself any
further concern about it—as I have not any demand upon you, but a continuence of that
Friendship and regard, commenced in early Life, and never designedly forfeited. 8

by Your Friend

Abigail Adams

Both mr Adams and your Friend unite our best wishes for the
Health and happiness of Gen ll Warren and yourself and
Family.